Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-05
MAKING had BOYS GOOD.
Methods Of Treating Incorrigible Lads
at the Reform school.

! MAKING had BOYS GOOD.
Methods Of Treating Incorrigible Lads
Mt the Reform school.
THE DISTRICT HOUSE OF CORRECTION AND HOW II
| Is MANAGED-A SYSTEM OF MERrT-INpUyTRIAI
TRAINING FOR THE BoYs-A NEW BUILDING no BIZ
ERECTED.
| 81 suppose that the great majority OF people in
this District would not be able to tell where the
Reform school is situated II the question was put
to them, remarked Col. Shallenberger the super
| intendent OF the school, to STAR reporter. The
colonel did not say this in a complaining way at
ALL for he is too good natured man, but he merely
expressed the opinion as the result he said OF his
| own personal experience. THE STAR reporter had
found Col Shallenberger in the Office OF A. j. Falls
the president OF the board OF trustees and in the
course of conversation this estimate of the ex-
tent OF the Information Of the people OF the Dis
| trict upon this subject was expressed sEvery-
body. OF course, knows" continued the colonel
| the reformation OF young boys who make them
selves liable TO punishment under the laws or who
are Incorrigible at home But that is about the
extent Of the knowledge on this subject How
ever, we exist" he added, land think that the
school IS doing the work for which it was intended
There are about one hundred and sixty boys in
the school, and they have been received by COM
mitment Of the Police Court or the president OF
the board. The latter has power to commit boy
| to the school when upon the application OF the
| parent or guardian it is shown that the boy is
| Idle and incorngible. Such boys however, must
taned in the school until they have reached their
majority"
THE OPEN SYSTEM.
"Our school" continued the superintendent, ssis
conducted on what is known as the open system
That is to say, we do not have high walls about
the grounds and confine the boys within a limited
space. 1t is now generally conceded that more
| boys escape or try to escape when an elaborate
system OF bars and chains is in use than when the
physical evidences OF restraint not SO appar.
ent, There is something in high wall that in
cites boys ingenuity to devise some means of
open system is the best and it is the one gen.
| orally In USE"
slow DO you prevent the boys from getting
swell we do it mainly" was the reply, seby en-
couraging spirit in the school that IS opposed to
very practical but it is, in fact. or course there
| are various circumstances which contribute to
tnls spirit IN the first place our system OF grades
tained In the school until he Is twenty-one years
OF age can, by good conduct and application to his
eighteen months. Then the boy knows that his
| commitment to the school stands against him
until he has served out his term. II he runs away
before his regular discharge he knows that he can
be arrested any where and be brought back.
have had boys who have run away return volun-
@ Sa 81 Soa
their homes here and they want to remain in the
CITY which they could not do ii they were liable to
De arrested by the police. With this spirit OF
obedience and discipline the boys act as re-
strafnt upon each other. They have pride in the
record of the family to which they belong and
they are not willing to allow any one boy to in
jure it,"
THE DAILY LIFE OF THE BOYS
"Of course do not wish you to understand" he
went on, "that we depend entirely upon the spirit
OF obedience. We have the boys in charge of
teachers all the time, whether they are at work.
thpy
down to their breakfast, and then tie detail for
the morning is made Some Of the boys go to the
chalr ShOp, where they cane chairS others to the
tailor and shoe shops where the clothing and
shoes needed In the school are made; some work
on the farm and some attend school, In the afteI-
noon the boys are shifted about so that the day ia
about equally divided between work, study and
pay. When It Is considered that many OF these
boys come to us from the streets. Or what is per
hapS worse, from homes where the parents
are utterly incompetent to bring up child
rem, and others still find their way from other
cities and have become verttable boy tramps it is
rather remarkable that what are known as
severer methods of discipline are not employed.
some going out and others coming in from the
Police Court, so that therel is new raw material
system"
occasionally boy runs away" resumed the
colonel 1T Is to be expected but it is better that
we should lose boy now and then than by resort
ing to harsher measures prevent the DEVELOPMENT
0i mannness and the good that Is in their natures
Sn1h1 t nat last year lost five boys larger
HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTION.
The Reform school was created by act of Congress-
approved 18th OF July 1866, under the title "House
OF correction, which grew out Of former one des-
isnaI ~ as line Guardan Society Incorporated by
act OF Congress approved july !, 1882. The latter
society raised some five or six Thousand dollars
through the hberality OF few citizens and bank
Ing institutions OF Washington obtained in 1865
large building erected near the city as hospital
during the war, and removed it TO the "Govern-
ment Farm, :" situated about half mile from the
m IflSn
washington; but, their funds being exhausted, the
act first mentioned was passed Incorporating the
ating ST., 600 for the benefit oil the institution
This however, only suffced to prepare the build
Ing for the reception OF the boys leaving no ade
the board OF directors were unable to put the In
stltut1on into satisfactory operation, it was
deemed advisable TO organize the school by APP
pointing superintendent and receiving q Small
number OF boys sent TO the institution by the
sh ~ upon Congress to make
1t on, and the first boys, two in number were adj
United January Ii, 1870.
CRISIS.
Congress failed to make an appropriation for the
expenses OF the school for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1871, and the board were left compara-
lively, without the means to defray the EXPENSES
OF the institution In This dilemma they had TO de-
eide whether they would turn the sixty-three boys
the work until relief could be found in cOn9res-
siOnal action. number Of liberal merchants and
others turnlSned supplies With the hope OF REIN.
burSement when Congress convened; While funds
for payment OF salaries and incidental expenses
were raised on individual notes OF the trustees
The location or the school upon the government
farm, On the Potomac river. having unfortunately
proved unhealthy during the summer and fail OF
1871, application Was made to Congress for an an
preparation OF 100000 for the purchase OF a new
site and the erection OF suitable buildings thereon
and Congress made the appropriation asked for
TIE BUILDING AND GROUNDS
The board OF trustees lost no time after obtain
ing the new sit in contracting the erection OF
a main building and family building plans OF
which were made by Edward Clark, architect of
the Capitol, and approved by the Secretary of the
Fort Lincoln Is now called 'MOunt Lincoln being
an elevation overlooking the surrounding country
for many miles distant. 1t is situated on the old
BladenSburg turnpike road three miles east OF the
Capitol. The buildings now erected on this high
point OF land are conspicuous marks to a wide
extent OF country from every side. The site con-
SiSts of three hundred and fifty acres OF land
which is susceptible OF great ornamental Improve.
ment. The original purchase made July 90 1872
consisted OF one hundred and fifty acres. TWo
hundred acres were subsequently added to the
farm. The main building consists of a front
extension, which Is four stories high with a
spacious hall through. On the first floor are
located the OMceS, receptiOn-rOOm, and Offlcers'
dining-rooms On the second floor are the parlors
superintendent living-apartments guest-cham
berS and dOrmtOries. The third floor is Occunied
by the Officers. On the fourth floor are the store
rooms for clothing, &C., and the bed-chambers for
the house employees. Two commOdiOns WINGS
nv,df vaVr1 hnp M